Crowe’s feat, Buckley’s chance

One of the great advantages of being in the upper reaches of the mercantile class is the access it provides to those more concerned with theatrical pursuits. Put that together with a love of rugby league and you have
Russell Crowe
sitting down for a cup of something warm with mining magnate
Nathan Tinkler
.

The Big Unit, as Tinkler is known, has been under pressure in recent times to rescue the cash-strapped Newcastle Knights rugby league club.

We gather he wanted to sound out Rusty on the finer details of owning a team and all that it might involve.

But Crowe, who owns South Sydney, appears to have been less than complimentary about the merits of club ownership.

As Tinkler tells the story, the actor asked him how many children he had.

When Tinkler replied that he had four on the ground, Crowe asked him if he “wanted 40 more".

“You are held accountable for every f--- up these guys make," Tinkler told us recently. We guess that means he won’t be buying the Knights. It might also provide a little background to a public comment Tinkler made during the week, when he came to the rescue of the Newcastle Jets A-League club.

“I have no desire to own a football club," Tinkler said in a statement.